Time – 36 dots
• Time for guided play (for faculty and students).
• Don’t be in a rush to implement new procedures/ideas, but purposefully work to a goal when time allows to master something.
• Set aside a manageable block of time per week to explore and play.
• Create opportunities for time to play – “learn new tech.”
• Provide time for experimentation and professional development.
• “Sabbaticals” for the exploration of the craft of teaching.
• Flexible time – Why regular school day?
• Let students monitor themselves and each other – not everything they produce needs to be checked by me.
• Less specials, more time in the classroom for student-centered activities.
• One period off to “communicate” new ideas and discuss f2f.
• In a six-hour day, teachers will teach and have duties for only four hours.
• Year-round calendar – nine weeks on, three weeks off – enrichment for faculty and students – five-week summer.
• One and a half hours of planning time every day.
• Revamp the schedule.
• Delayed starts to the school day to capture planning/meeting time.
• Provide an afternoon or half day during the month to work on tech stuff.
• Provide subs for professional development.
• Built-in professional development time.
• Alter schedule for f2f training time to help those resistant develop comfort.
• Build in effective time for professional development.
• Give teachers permission/encouragement (and time) to play and use tools for themselves.
• Students rethink schedules to focus on student learning.
• Time set aside for teachers to meet one another and to share.
Vision/Leadership – 35 dots
• Pick an all-school focus area – only one area! Stick with it until all are proficient.
• Don’t introduce this Web 2.0 stuff with three other initiatives.
• A school-wide vision should be printed and previewed yearly.
• Need t have a year-long curriculum for faculty/staff in mind and follow through.
• Create an action plan to answer “why?”
• Have admins blog/write updates for parents/faculty.
• What’s working now – Head of school is interested in seeing more tech being used in the classroom.
• Buy-in by admin team.
• Educate teachers and staff so that we are consistent in the message of this shift.
• Require web-based teacher training.
• Working now – PLP.
• PD for admins.
• Personnel to facilitate.
• Admin or school leaders provide scaffolding (encouragement) for innovation and freedom for teachers to explore new ideas.
• Actions: Allowing/encouraging/supporting those who want to learn more (grants).
• What can individuals do? Lead from behind.
• Individuals: Positive, grassroots leaders.
• Bubble up or develop individuals who model it well.
Culture – 35 dots
• Have confidence in change.
• Building playtime into schedule – teachers & teachers, teachers & students, admin & teachers, parents & teachers.
• Project based learning is working.
• Experiential “fail” and learn.
• Staff develop admin to create a community of risk-takers and failure-praisers.
• Create a culture where it is okay to ask for help and to offer help.
• Individuals: Take responsibility for being an innovative teacher.
• Explore.
• Value what works – don’t change everything.
• Understand that it is okay to not know how to do everything – one piece at a time.
• Show videos of teachers who don’t “control.”
• Develop student-teachers in your room!
• Educate parents right from the start.
• Parents who see the benefit of social networking.
• Decide whether stick-in-the-mud teachers are worth the effort and energy to keep.
Professional Development – 26 dots
• Working now: Lower school tech committee.
• Faculty education and knowledge of workshops.
• Teacher workdays focused on the possibilities of new technology.
• Sessions on faculty strengths – confidence to let go and accept chaos of new methods.
• “Rewards” for trying something new, “failing” but learning from it.
• Celebrate failure.
• Give teachers certification credit for taking professional development.
• Give teachers certification credit for mentoring other teachers.
• “Real” professional development opportunities that aren’t simply an hour meeting of listening.
• Tech show for parents and teachers – Chris Pirillo show.
• Innovative ideas tech expo.
• Share examples of best practices online (Ning, etc.) so teachers who may be nervous about jumping into Web 2.0/social networking/21st century skills can research examples in non-threatening way.
• Develop PLNs that are right size to promote and share yet not overwhelming.
• The time we were given – give time to small groups.
• Use PD days to use tech to facilitate learning/build communities.
• Opportunities for more staff development in tech.
• Ning.
• More school visits – see what’s being done elsewhere.
• Get teachers to visit other schools doing it right.
• Opportunities for teachers to see and experience what others have done with technology.
Accountability – 15 dots
• Teachers held accountable for learning new things!
• Get a new job.
• Make 2.0 tools a necessity to renew contract (learn about it one year and implement the next).
• Focus on one or two new tech areas per year – don’t overwhelm hesitant teachers.
• Dismiss teachers who are no longer effective.
• Encourage (or require) teachers to adopt at least one new tech idea in their classrooms each year.
• Fire resistant teachers.
• Personal learning plans and contracts for all students.
• Actions: Admin support.
• Actions: Professional development day.
Support – 14 dots
• Good tech support in each division.
• Tech coordinator at building level.
• Dedicated on-demand, 24/7 tech support.
• Have plenty of tech support so teachers can dream but be shown the way.
• More technology permanently installed in classrooms; people on hand to fix it immediately when something goes wrong.
• Create more teacher assistant jobs to give teachers planning time to implement technology in their curriculum.
• Team teaching.
• Newbies should work with veterans for support.
• Teacher assistant.
• Work smarter not harder – work as a team of teachers.
• Reconfigure the research/media centers/libraries.
• Demonstrate with relatively easy examples.
• Sufficient resources for each teacher to be able to use technology in their room/subject – projectors, computers.
• Share excitement and enthusiasm instead of worrying over negatives or naysayers.
Community – 14 dots
• Teachers observing interactions and processes in classrooms that are regarded as successful users of new technology.
• As tech people, revel in your own failures.
• Continue developing tech committee.
• Common prep time for teachers teaching common subjects.
• Require character/ethics classes.
• Build relationships.
• Model the work or learning – lead by example.
• Less time in faculty meetings spent on “keeping the trains running on time” and more, much more time spent building community!
• Sense of “team” each member contributes to success – everyone has a role – build on each other’s strengths – shore up each other’s weaknesses.
• Hook teachers by figuring out their interests and connecting it to potential application (YouTube – digital media, E-mail – Ning, interest groups, etc.)
• Individuals can grow “gardens” and “cross-pollinate” them! (link communities)
• Must discuss how education has changed since school was founded first before discussing new tools.
• Give people food. Lots of food.
• Find influencers.
• Share the meaningful communication that can happen online.
• Play a supporting role in the FH community Ning.
• Solicit opinions from students about what to do, both past and present.
• Develop shared groups to support and celebrate baby steps of growth.
Curriculum/Pedagogy – 14 dots
• Year-long schooling.
• No APIs so I don’t teach to the test.
• No textbooks (ie: except literature).
• Department agreement on amount of info covered each year so that time can be given to work with and experiment with new technologies.
• “Assistive” technology tools available to all.
• New meant to replace any other methods.
• Overhaul all library systems/libraries to incorporate Web 2.0 as learning/teaching centers.
• Provide toolbox of teaching methods.
• Provide rubric for assessing how well methods work.
• Teach for “mastery” – period.
• Require student-led projects/collaborative projects.
• Revamp curriculum so that it is not so content divided.
• Not just an “add-on” to use technology.
• Create more student-centered activities.
Teacher Ignorance – 12 dots
• Educate faculty of the 21st century skills.
• Be a role model for the students when helping them develop their PLN.
• All teachers currently exploring innovative uses of technology/Web 2.0/etc. should be very supportive of teachers who are just beginning to explore the idea – lots of positive feedback, informal mentoring, etc.
• The evidence of engaged students that is all over the Web.
• Lead by example and let the results do the talking.
• Change of thinking – Know that six kids responding to a blog question is already a success for those six kids. It is way better than reaching zero kids.
• Bring in action-oriented meetings where we model great teaching and learning.
• Clearly define Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0.
• Change requirements that stifle present and future learning styles.
• Sharing lessons both successes and failures.
• Have great examples of how to change classroom and new protocols to have teachers create ideas.
• Model tech through whatever curriculum is being reviewed.
• Fully explore the ‘why’ (mindset not tools).
• Peer coaching.
• Individual teachers be given release time to train each other in Web 2.0 tech skills that apply to their curriculum.
• Year-long sabbaticals.
• Peer observation.
Technology – 6 dots
• Give kids email and figure out how to make it work.
• Provide laptop for kids.
• Provide laptops for all teachers (Don’t have to be tablets).
• Laptop incentive (wireless).
• Every teacher should have a projector.
• Every class should have access to video camera.
• Every child should have their own computer with internet access.
• One laptop per child – budget.
• Give each teacher a laptop to keep with one or two weeks training and summer grant to implement tech with their laptop – not 1:1, but teachers.
• More reliable tech working now.
• A wireless world.
• Laptop carts for first grade to allow us to reach all students at one time.
• Laptops and general access.
• Bandwidth.
• Remind staff that their technology has failed before – broken pencils, dry markers, copier not working.
Infrastructure – 6 dots
Assessment – 3 dots
• Laser focus on what is being assessed with individualized progress reports.
• Change focus of learning from content only to content, skill and application.
• Provide toolbox of assessment methods.
• New grading system for authenticity.
• A shift to problem-based learning.
• Paper grading database with drag-and-drop commenting.
Physical Environment – 2 dots
• No doors on the classrooms.
• Outfit classrooms with proper “structure” to facilitate Web 2.0.
• Schedule.
• Space-rooms-lab.
Students – 0 dots
• Better to learn lesson in safe environment before college work.
• PLP for parents and kids.
• Model online behavior.
• Be a learner along with students.
• Require laptops.
• Teach 21st century skills in younger grades.
• Teach typing.
• Early childhood tech education.
• Time for guided play (for faculty and students).
• Don’t be in a rush to implement new procedures/ideas, but purposefully work to a goal when time allows to master something.
• Set aside a manageable block of time per week to explore and play.
• Create opportunities for time to play – “learn new tech.”
• Provide time for experimentation and professional development.
• “Sabbaticals” for the exploration of the craft of teaching.
• Flexible time – Why regular school day?
• Let students monitor themselves and each other – not everything they produce needs to be checked by me.
• Less specials, more time in the classroom for student-centered activities.
• One period off to “communicate” new ideas and discuss f2f.
• In a six-hour day, teachers will teach and have duties for only four hours.
• Year-round calendar – nine weeks on, three weeks off – enrichment for faculty and students – five-week summer.
• One and a half hours of planning time every day.
• Revamp the schedule.
• Delayed starts to the school day to capture planning/meeting time.
• Provide an afternoon or half day during the month to work on tech stuff.
• Provide subs for professional development.
• Built-in professional development time.
• Alter schedule for f2f training time to help those resistant develop comfort.
• Build in effective time for professional development.
• Give teachers permission/encouragement (and time) to play and use tools for themselves.
• Students rethink schedules to focus on student learning.
• Time set aside for teachers to meet one another and to share.
Vision/Leadership – 35 dots
• Pick an all-school focus area – only one area! Stick with it until all are proficient.
• Don’t introduce this Web 2.0 stuff with three other initiatives.
• A school-wide vision should be printed and previewed yearly.
• Need t have a year-long curriculum for faculty/staff in mind and follow through.
• Create an action plan to answer “why?”
• Have admins blog/write updates for parents/faculty.
• What’s working now – Head of school is interested in seeing more tech being used in the classroom.
• Buy-in by admin team.
• Educate teachers and staff so that we are consistent in the message of this shift.
• Require web-based teacher training.
• Working now – PLP.
• PD for admins.
• Personnel to facilitate.
• Admin or school leaders provide scaffolding (encouragement) for innovation and freedom for teachers to explore new ideas.
• Actions: Allowing/encouraging/supporting those who want to learn more (grants).
• What can individuals do? Lead from behind.
• Individuals: Positive, grassroots leaders.
• Bubble up or develop individuals who model it well.
Culture – 35 dots
• Have confidence in change.
• Building playtime into schedule – teachers & teachers, teachers & students, admin & teachers, parents & teachers.
• Project based learning is working.
• Experiential “fail” and learn.
• Staff develop admin to create a community of risk-takers and failure-praisers.
• Create a culture where it is okay to ask for help and to offer help.
• Individuals: Take responsibility for being an innovative teacher.
• Explore.
• Value what works – don’t change everything.
• Understand that it is okay to not know how to do everything – one piece at a time.
• Show videos of teachers who don’t “control.”
• Develop student-teachers in your room!
• Educate parents right from the start.
• Parents who see the benefit of social networking.
• Decide whether stick-in-the-mud teachers are worth the effort and energy to keep.
Professional Development – 26 dots
• Working now: Lower school tech committee.
• Faculty education and knowledge of workshops.
• Teacher workdays focused on the possibilities of new technology.
• Sessions on faculty strengths – confidence to let go and accept chaos of new methods.
• “Rewards” for trying something new, “failing” but learning from it.
• Celebrate failure.
• Give teachers certification credit for taking professional development.
• Give teachers certification credit for mentoring other teachers.
• “Real” professional development opportunities that aren’t simply an hour meeting of listening.
• Tech show for parents and teachers – Chris Pirillo show.
• Innovative ideas tech expo.
• Share examples of best practices online (Ning, etc.) so teachers who may be nervous about jumping into Web 2.0/social networking/21st century skills can research examples in non-threatening way.
• Develop PLNs that are right size to promote and share yet not overwhelming.
• The time we were given – give time to small groups.
• Use PD days to use tech to facilitate learning/build communities.
• Opportunities for more staff development in tech.
• Ning.
• More school visits – see what’s being done elsewhere.
• Get teachers to visit other schools doing it right.
• Opportunities for teachers to see and experience what others have done with technology.
Accountability – 15 dots
• Teachers held accountable for learning new things!
• Get a new job.
• Make 2.0 tools a necessity to renew contract (learn about it one year and implement the next).
• Focus on one or two new tech areas per year – don’t overwhelm hesitant teachers.
• Dismiss teachers who are no longer effective.
• Encourage (or require) teachers to adopt at least one new tech idea in their classrooms each year.
• Fire resistant teachers.
• Personal learning plans and contracts for all students.
• Actions: Admin support.
• Actions: Professional development day.
Support – 14 dots
• Good tech support in each division.
• Tech coordinator at building level.
• Dedicated on-demand, 24/7 tech support.
• Have plenty of tech support so teachers can dream but be shown the way.
• More technology permanently installed in classrooms; people on hand to fix it immediately when something goes wrong.
• Create more teacher assistant jobs to give teachers planning time to implement technology in their curriculum.
• Team teaching.
• Newbies should work with veterans for support.
• Teacher assistant.
• Work smarter not harder – work as a team of teachers.
• Reconfigure the research/media centers/libraries.
• Demonstrate with relatively easy examples.
• Sufficient resources for each teacher to be able to use technology in their room/subject – projectors, computers.
• Share excitement and enthusiasm instead of worrying over negatives or naysayers.
Community – 14 dots
• Teachers observing interactions and processes in classrooms that are regarded as successful users of new technology.
• As tech people, revel in your own failures.
• Continue developing tech committee.
• Common prep time for teachers teaching common subjects.
• Require character/ethics classes.
• Build relationships.
• Model the work or learning – lead by example.
• Less time in faculty meetings spent on “keeping the trains running on time” and more, much more time spent building community!
• Sense of “team” each member contributes to success – everyone has a role – build on each other’s strengths – shore up each other’s weaknesses.
• Hook teachers by figuring out their interests and connecting it to potential application (YouTube – digital media, E-mail – Ning, interest groups, etc.)
• Individuals can grow “gardens” and “cross-pollinate” them! (link communities)
• Must discuss how education has changed since school was founded first before discussing new tools.
• Give people food. Lots of food.
• Find influencers.
• Share the meaningful communication that can happen online.
• Play a supporting role in the FH community Ning.
• Solicit opinions from students about what to do, both past and present.
• Develop shared groups to support and celebrate baby steps of growth.
Curriculum/Pedagogy – 14 dots
• Year-long schooling.
• No APIs so I don’t teach to the test.
• No textbooks (ie: except literature).
• Department agreement on amount of info covered each year so that time can be given to work with and experiment with new technologies.
• “Assistive” technology tools available to all.
• New meant to replace any other methods.
• Overhaul all library systems/libraries to incorporate Web 2.0 as learning/teaching centers.
• Provide toolbox of teaching methods.
• Provide rubric for assessing how well methods work.
• Teach for “mastery” – period.
• Require student-led projects/collaborative projects.
• Revamp curriculum so that it is not so content divided.
• Not just an “add-on” to use technology.
• Create more student-centered activities.
Teacher Ignorance – 12 dots
• Educate faculty of the 21st century skills.
• Be a role model for the students when helping them develop their PLN.
• All teachers currently exploring innovative uses of technology/Web 2.0/etc. should be very supportive of teachers who are just beginning to explore the idea – lots of positive feedback, informal mentoring, etc.
• The evidence of engaged students that is all over the Web.
• Lead by example and let the results do the talking.
• Change of thinking – Know that six kids responding to a blog question is already a success for those six kids. It is way better than reaching zero kids.
• Bring in action-oriented meetings where we model great teaching and learning.
• Clearly define Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0.
• Change requirements that stifle present and future learning styles.
• Sharing lessons both successes and failures.
• Have great examples of how to change classroom and new protocols to have teachers create ideas.
• Model tech through whatever curriculum is being reviewed.
• Fully explore the ‘why’ (mindset not tools).
• Peer coaching.
• Individual teachers be given release time to train each other in Web 2.0 tech skills that apply to their curriculum.
• Year-long sabbaticals.
• Peer observation.
Technology – 6 dots
• Give kids email and figure out how to make it work.
• Provide laptop for kids.
• Provide laptops for all teachers (Don’t have to be tablets).
• Laptop incentive (wireless).
• Every teacher should have a projector.
• Every class should have access to video camera.
• Every child should have their own computer with internet access.
• One laptop per child – budget.
• Give each teacher a laptop to keep with one or two weeks training and summer grant to implement tech with their laptop – not 1:1, but teachers.
• More reliable tech working now.
• A wireless world.
• Laptop carts for first grade to allow us to reach all students at one time.
• Laptops and general access.
• Bandwidth.
• Remind staff that their technology has failed before – broken pencils, dry markers, copier not working.
Infrastructure – 6 dots
Assessment – 3 dots
• Laser focus on what is being assessed with individualized progress reports.
• Change focus of learning from content only to content, skill and application.
• Provide toolbox of assessment methods.
• New grading system for authenticity.
• A shift to problem-based learning.
• Paper grading database with drag-and-drop commenting.
Physical Environment – 2 dots
• No doors on the classrooms.
• Outfit classrooms with proper “structure” to facilitate Web 2.0.
• Schedule.
• Space-rooms-lab.
Students – 0 dots
• Better to learn lesson in safe environment before college work.
• PLP for parents and kids.
• Model online behavior.
• Be a learner along with students.
• Require laptops.
• Teach 21st century skills in younger grades.
• Teach typing.
• Early childhood tech education.